1A small piece of bread or pastry with a savoury topping, served with drinks at receptions or formal parties.
‘smoked-salmon canapés’
‘But instead of resorting to the sort of supermarket canapés that are served with inevitable monotony at so many parties, why not opt for home-made nibbles, which also work out far cheaper.’
‘From the canapés with our pre-dinner drink to the petits-fours served with coffee in the lounge, nothing could be faulted.’
‘The company would assemble round this table, propose toasts, clink glasses, down the first glass of vodka in a gulp, and quickly follow it with a bite of herring or a caviar canapé.’
‘In addition, the conventioneers consumed 2,500 smoked salmon canapés, nine roast steamships of beef and nine honey-glazed hams.’
‘We had private access to a new exhibition in the museum followed by a champagne & canapé reception all served by excellent staff in a magnificently decorated pair of rooms.’
‘Pre-dinner drinks outside are always welcome, though, weather-permitting, and this is also the time to serve up some substantial canapés - this means that dinner can be delayed if the sun is still up.’
‘The room was full of people talking, drinking, plucking canapés from the silver trays of passing waiters.’
‘I was busy preparing canapés all day in preparation for the launch party, but I found the time to get my hair done, so I looked half presentable.’
‘A number of artists and sculptors will be present and wine and canapés will be served throughout the evening to the accompaniment of gentle jazz music.’
‘Tickets cost £5 which includes a champagne reception with canapés and a raffle.’
‘Sitting by the pool in the balmy evening air, we enjoyed delicious drinks and canapés.’
‘And then he plies me with a series of divine canapés, and some extremely good champagne.’
‘So when the mini fish pies and smoked duck canapés arrived, I was positively gasping for a glass of bubbly.’
‘Entrées, affordably priced between $1.50 and $5.75, include your standard imperial, spring or egg rolls, as well as dumplings and shrimp canapés.’
‘We were waited on hand and foot, served from silver salvers with tasty canapés and our glasses were never empty.’
‘Champagne will be served at midnight, followed by canapés at 1 a.m.’
‘A stewardess, having given the officials canapés, asked whether she should serve them to the players.’
‘Aperitifs and canapés in the Cedar Room and post-prandial drinks in the gazebo on the lawn should not be missed.’
‘Diners will be treated to scrumptious canapés and cocktails at the first hotel after which they will board a coach and travel to the next hotel for starters.’
‘You may think that canapés are perfectly nice little mouthfuls of harmless kitsch, and what's the difference between a canapé in the hand or a starter on the plate.’
starter, canapé, first course, finger food, titbit, savoury, snack
2A decorative French antique sofa.
‘She is seated at ease on a comfortable canapé.’
‘Many different types of couches exist; popular types include the divan. the chaise longue, the canapé or the ottoman.’
Origin
French, canapé (sense 1) being a figurative extension of the sense ‘sofa’ (as a ‘couch’ on which to place toppings). See also canopy.
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